Electric cigar lighter



May 17, 1966 L. F. TAYLOR 3,251,979

ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER I Filed Nov. 20, 1963 zazfii g Ag 2/ 4.9a

fi 835 '4 8 5/ 72 3 20 5 Z 4950 47 Q If g A INVENTOR. 50 LZqydF Ta yZo/United States Patent 3,251,979 ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER Lloyd F. Taylor,Fairlield, Conn., assignor to Casco Products Corporation, a corporationof Connecticut Filed Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 325,093 16 Claims. (Cl.219-268) The present invention relates toan electric cigar lighter ofthe type that has an electrically heated igniting element and moreparticularly to such a lighter that integrally carries its own source ofelectrical energy for heating the element.

One well-known kind of electric cigar lighter is the plug and socket orpass-around type wherein the plug has a tobacco igniting element that isheated .when the plug is positioned in the socket in its element heatingposition, the socket being connected to a source of electrical energy.After the element is heated, it automatically expels in the socket to astorage position where a user may then remove it from the socket toignite tobacco. In this type of lighter, the element is only heated whenit is in the socket in its element heating position and thus theduration which the element may ignite tobacco is solely dependent On theability of the element to retain a tobacco igniting temperature. Such aduration is normally on the order of only seconds and thus while such alighter has been found satisfactory, it must be repeatedly heated if thetime required to place the heated element against and ignite the tobaccoextends beyond the heat retention time of the element.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cigar lighter of theabove type that has a heating element that is electrically heated withthe source of electrical energy being carried integrally with the plugand thus may continually serve to heat the element.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric cigarlighter of the plug and socket type in which the plug carries arechargeable electric battery that is employed to electrically heat atobacco igniting element and in which the battery is recharged when theplug is placed in its storage position in the socket.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cigar lighterof the above type in which, during charging of the battery, the elementis prevented from being energized and in which a manual operation isrequired when the plug is removed from the socket to effect the heatingof the igniting element.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric cigar lighter of the above type in which a battery chargingcircuit between the socket and the plug is established simply by theinsertion of the plug in the socket without requiring any particularradial alignment therebetween.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a socket inwhich a plug may be positioned for storage and charging and removedtherefrom for use to ignite tobacco. The plug includes a hollow bodyportion having at one end a knob and at its other end an electricallyheatable igniting element. Positioned within the body member is arechargeable battery with the battery and the element beinginterconnected in a series circuit so that the current from the batterymay pass through the element to heat it. For controlling passage ofcurrent to the element from the battery, the plug includes a pair ofnormally separated or open contacting members that may be manuallyclosed to complete the circuit by relative movement between onecontactpreferably carried by the body member and another contact mounted formovement of the body member with respect thereto. Thus by closing thecontacting members the user may provide for continuous heating of thecoil during use for as long as the battery remains capable of causingsuch heating.

3,251,979 Patented May 17, 1966 When the plug is not being used, it ispositioned in the socket, not only for storage but also to enable thebattery to be recharged. The socket is connectible to a source ofelectrical energy, as for example when the lighter is used in anautomobile, it will be the automobile electrical system and includesterminals that electrically engage a charging circuit means of the plugto enable current to flow into the battery to effect a charging thereof.The socket terminals that electrically engage the plug are, without theplug, in open circuit arrangement to thereby prevent short-circuitingtherebetween and yet are so constructed to electrically engage the plugat any radial position of the plug when the plug is inserted in thesocket to its battery charging position. Moreover, the socket providesfor preventing the relative movement between the contacting members ofthe plug when the plug is positioned in the socket and thus prevents theelement from being inadvertently or otherwise heated when the plug is inthe socket.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is substantially an axial section of a socket and plug of thepresent invention showing the plug in its battery charging position inthe socket.

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the plug removed from thesocket.

FIG. 3 is an end view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG..2, somewhat reduced in size, showingmanually forced relationship of the plug for causing the battery to beelectrically interconnected with the element to causing heating thereof.

Referring to the drawing, the electric cigar lighter of the presentinvention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 andincludes a socket 11 and a plug 12 that is storable in the socket butremovable therefrom for use. The socket 11 is preferably secured in anaperture 13 formed in a wall 14, such as is found in the dashboard of anautomobile, and is maintained in place by a clamping member 15 engagingthe interior surface of the Wall and a hollow cylindrical well 16 havingan entrance rim 17 engaging the opposite surface of the wall 14. Theclamping member 15 is axially movable with respect to the well 16 byreason of mating threads formed on it and on a substantially tubularmember 18, secured to the rearward end of the well 16.

The well 16 and tubular member 18 are axially apertured and a headedbolt 19 extends therethrough to provide securement for a multi-fingeredterminal member 20 and a radially extending abutment member 21 at thebottom of the well. Electrical insulation, generally indicated by thereference numeral 22, circumscribes the bolt 19 to maintain the well 16and the tubular member 18 electrically isolated from the bolt 19. Aconductor 23 is threadingly connected to the bolt 19 and electricalcurrent can thus only pass from the conductor 23 to the terminal member20.

The plug 12 is formed to have a hollow body member 24 that at one endhas a knob 25 attached thereto while at its other end, an electricallyheatable igniting element 26 is mounted. More specifically, the bodymember 24 is substantially cylindrical and has an end cap 27, an end cap28 and an intermediate part 29 which define therebetween a hollowchamber in which tery 30 is contained. The end cap 27 is formed ofelectrically conducting material such as metal and has an aixal cavity31 in which is positioned a conducting spring 32 that bears against theend cap 27 and the bottom terminal 30a of the battery 30 to place theparts in electrical conducting relationship. In addition, the end cap 27has projecting portions 33 which are utilized for securing the knob 25thereto as by the molding of the knob of electrically insulating plasticmaterial about the a rechargeable batcurable to the intermediate portion29 as by mating threads 34 to enable insertion and replacement of thebattery 30 when desired.-

The end cap 28 is preferably molded to have the crosssectional shapeshown of electrically insulating material and is formed with an axialaperture 35 in which is positioned a rivet 36. The rivet 36 has a head37 that is located toelectrically engage theother terminal 301; of thebattery 30 while its other end portion 38 has secured thereto an endportion 26a of the element 26. The rivet 36, in the specific embodimentof the invention shown, clamps and secures together from the end 38 tothe head 37, an electrically insulating washer 39,-a conducting disk 40mounted on an electrically insulating member 41, a cup 42, anotherelectrically insulating washer 43, a contact member 44 and the end cap28. For electrically connecting the contact member 44 to the disk 40 aplurality of spaced studs 45 are'provided. The other end 26b of theigniting element 26 is electrically secured'to the disk 40 and it willthus be appreciated that current may flow from the contact member 44,through the studs 45 to the disk 40, thence through the element 26 tothe rivet 36 and then to the battery terminal 3%. In addition, the cup42 while electrically connected'to the rivet 36 is electrically isolatedfrom any other conducting parts of the plug by the insulating member41-and washer 43.

Encircling the body member 24 is' a tubular sleeve 46 I having one endadjacent the knob 25 outwardly flanged as at 47 andits other endinwardly flanged as at 48. The exterior of the sleeve has asubstantially tubular ash guard member 49 slidably movable thereon butin frictional, electrical engagement therewith. The sleeve 46 is urgedleftward as shown in the drawing by a compressed spring 50 hearingagainst the flange 48 and a rim 51 on the intermediate portion 29 withinwardly struck tangs-52 engageable with the rim 1 to limit leftwardmovement. The sleeve 46 is accordingly slidingly movable on the bodyportion 24 from the spring urged position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to theposition shown in FIG. 4.

In accordance with the present invention, the plug '12, when it isremoved from the socket 11, normally has an open circuit between thebattery 30 and the heating element 26, so that current does not passthrough the element. However, upon a user grasping the=flange-47 and theknob 25 and moving these elements relative to each other to the positionshown in FIG. 4, a heating circuit is established which places theelement 26 inseries with the'battery 30. The circuit extends from thebattery terminal 305 through the rivet 36, the-end 26a of the heatingelement, the element 26, the other end 26b of the heating element to thedisk 40, studs 45 to the contact member 44 and as the sleeve has beenaxially moved on the body member there is an electrical connectionestablished between the flange 43 and the contact member 44 with currentbeing .conducted therebetweem The'spring;

50 "then conducts current between the flange 48 and the rim 51 of theintermediate portion 29 (which is formed of conducting material) andthence through the end cap open circuit position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2wherein the' heating circuit between the battery and element is openedby separation of the contact member 44 andflange 48.

In accordance with the present invention, the battery 30 is of therechargeable type and is charged when the plug is positioned in itsstorage position in the socket 11. To this end, as heretofore set forth,the connector 23 is connectible to one side of a source of electricalenergy (not shown) to effect conduction of current from .the source tothe terminal member 20. Current is then conducted through a chargingcircuit in the plug that includes the cup 42, rivet 36 and head 37 toterminal 30b of the battery 30. The charging circuit is completed fromthe other terminal 3% of the battery to the spring 32, end cap 27,theintermediate'part 29, tangs 52 or springfit) to the sleeve 46 andthence to the ash guard member 49. While the other side of the source ofelectrical energy may be connected to the well 16 by connections to it,the tubular member 18 or the clamping member 15, in the embodiment ofthe invention herein described, is connected to the wall 14, as is wellknown in the automotive industry. Thus as the well is connected to be inelectrical engagement with the other side of the source of electricalenergy, it constitutes the other terminal of the socket chargingcircuit. Conduction is prorim- 17 of the well 16, a portion 49a of theash guard Thus relative member being interposed therebetween. movementwhich would cause an electrical engagement between the contact memberand the flange 47 cannot occur.

The source of; electrical energy that is connected to the conductor 23and the wall 14 should have at least a value of voltage that is requiredto charge the battery and if higher, an external resistance may beinserted in" the conductor 23, as by makin'g'it of resistance wire, tothereby limit the value of the voltageto that required for charging thebattery.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the plug may be insertedinto the socket to establish the charging circuit with there beingnolimitation on the radial positioning of the plugs. This is achieved byhaving the' periphery of the cup 42 that is engaged by the terminalmember 20 be circular, the terminal member 20 being multi-fingered'(preferably three) with the fingers being concentric about the axis ofthe bolt 19 and by having both the inner periphery of the well 16 andthe outer' periphery of the ash guard member 49- substantiallycylindrical. This ability of the electric cigar lighter of the presentinvention has been found particularly advantageous as it does notrequire the direct attention of the user to carefully align terminals asonly an axial move ment of the plug into the-socket is sufficient.-

It will be appreciated that while the coil 26 has been shown to be abouta one turn spiral of resistance Wire, that the invention is not to belimited thereto but may utilize coils of'different shape, ie amulti-turn spiral, and different materials, ie resistive ceramics.

It will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosedanelectric cigar lighter that includes a socket in which a plug ispositionable with the plugbeing removable therefrom for use; The plughas an electrically heated igniting element and integrally carries asource of electrical energy, particularly a rechargeable battery,such-that a user by operation of relatively movable parts of the plug mycause a heating circuit to be established"- which enables the battery toheat the element. The heating of the element is maintained so long asthe user desires and thus-the igniting element may be utilized to ignitetobacco fora long duration. Upon termination of use, the plug isinserted into the socket for storage and Z in this position thebatteryis charged. The charging is effected by a source of electrical energybeing connected to the socket insuch a manner that connections are madeto the plug whenever the plug is positioned in its storage positionirrespective of the radial position of the plug with respect to thesocket. Thus the present invention provides for repeated use of the plugto ignite tobacco but yet during periods of non-use or storage, thebattery is being charged to maintain its effectiveness for whenever itsuse isdesired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

' 'I claim:

1. An electric cigar lighter including a plug and a socket adapted tostore said plug for manual removal therefrom for use, said plugincluding a body, having a handle portion at one end which projects fromthe socket, an igniting unit secured at the other end of said body, thebody having a cavity to removably receive and hold a rechargeablebattery, and circuit means including battery terminal-engaging contactmeans, means for placing the latter in series with the igniting elementto eifect heating thereof, charging circuit means in said socketincluding a first pair of terminals adapted to be connected to anextraneous source of battery-charging electrical energy and to a secondpair of terminals, means on the plug for causing said second pair ofterminals to be placed in series with the battery terminal-engagingcontact means to enable charging of a battery when the plug ispositioned in the socket.

2. An electric cigar lighter according to claim 1 in which said chargingcircuit means is connected to parallel said igniting element so that abattery may be charged without energizing the igniting element.

3. An electric cigar lighter according to claim 1 in which the circuitmeans for placing a battery in series with the igniting element toeffect heating thereof includes a normally open, manually operableswitch and there are means for preventing the closing of said switchwhile the plug is stored in its battery-charging position in the socket.

4. An electric cigar lighter according to claim 1 in which the handleportion of the plug body closes the battery holding cavity and isremovable from the adjacent portions of the body to permit removal andreplacement of a rechargeable battery.

5. An electric cigar lighter according to claim 3 in which the means forpreventing the closing of the normally open switch means while the plugis stored inits battery-charging position includes an abutment mountedin the socket and positioned to engage means on the igniting unit whenthe plug is inserted in the socket to batterycharging position.

6. An electric cigar lighter including a plug and a socket adapted tostore and enable removal of the plug therei from for use; said plugincluding .a hollow body member,

a knob secured at one end to said body member, and igniting elementsecured at the other end of said body member, a rechargeable batterycarried by the body member, circuit means for placing the battery "inseries with the igniting element to effect heating thereof and includinga sleeve encircling said body member and a charging circuit meansconnected to parallel said igniting element and including said sleeve;said socket including a well for electrically engaging said sleeve, andcircuit means having a first pair of terminals adapted to be connectedto a source of electrical energy and to a second pair of terminals, saidwell constituting one of said second pair of contacts, said second pairof terminals being placed in series with the battery through thechargingcircuit means to enable charging thereof when the plug is positioned inthe well.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 in which said heating element ispositioned in a cup, said cup is included in said charging circuit meansand the other of the second pair of terminals being spring fingersengageable with said cup when said plug is stored in its batterycharging position.

8. The invention as defined in claim 6 in which the circuit meansincludes switch means including a contact member movable with the bodyand the sleeve constituting the other contact member and being movableon the body, and said well has means for limiting the relative movementof the sleeve and said body, said means including a flange memberpositioned to abut the cup and a rim engageable by the sleeve.

9. An electric cigar lighter including a plug and a socket adapted tostore and enable removal of the plug therefrom for use; said plugincluding a hollow body member, a knob secured at one end to said bodymember, an igniting element secured at the other end of said bodymember, a rechargeable battery carried by the body member, circuit meansfor placing the battery in series with the igniting element to effectheating thereof and a charging circuit means connected to parallel saidigniting element and including first and second plug terminals; saidsocket including a well, and circuit means having a pair of terminalsadapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and to firstand second socket terminals, said first and second socket terminals tobe placed in series with the battery through the first and second plugterminals to enable charging thereof when the plug is positioned in thewell; said first terminals and said second terminals being in electricalengagement to establish the charging of the battery with one of eachbeing shaped to establish electrical engagement at more than one radialposition of the plug in the well; said second plug .terminal beingsubstantially tubular and said second socket terminal havingconcentrically arranged fingers for frictionally engaging said secondplug terminal.

10. An electric cigar lighter plug adapted to be stored in and removedfrom a socket for use comprising a body having a cavity to receive arechargeable electric battery, a knob secured at one end to said body tobe removable to give access to said cavity to permit removal and replacement of the battery, an igniting element secured at the other endof said. body, first circuit means for placing a battery in the cavityin series with the igniting element to effect heating thereof, saidfirst circuit means including switch means having a first contact membercarried by the body and a second contact member movable with respect tothe body for effecting the closing of the first circuit means and theheating of the igniting element, and second circuit means bypassing theigniting element and including contact means for placing a battery inthe cavity in series with an extraneous source of electrical energy forefiecting the charging of the battery.

11. An electric cigar lighter plug according to claim 10 in which saidsecond contact member includes a sleeve encircling at least a part ofsaid body member, and spring means for urging said first and secondcontact members away from each other to normally maintain the firstcircuit means in an open condition.

12. An electric cigar lighter having a hand portable igniting unit and areceptacle to store said plug for manual removal therefrom for use, saidreceptacle comprising a socket into which said igniting unit is insertedwith a handle portion thereon protruding for finger engagement; theigniting unit having a body carrying on its inner end an ignitingelement, a cavity for removably receiving and holding a rechargeableelectric battery, an electric contact means including batteryterminal-engaging contact means in said cavity and manually operableswitch means connectable in series with said igniting element and saidbattery terminal-engaging contact means for closing a circuit throughsaid igniting element and a rechargeable battery when the latter isinstalled in the cavity of the igniting unit to energize the ignitingelement; and conducting means in said receptacle socket connectable toan extraneous source of battery-charging current and socket contactmeans connected to said conducting means; and said igniting unit havingcontact means engageable with said socket contact means when theigniting unit is stored in are circular and concentric with the axis ofthe plug and socket and the socket contact means are so positioned thatelectrical contact between said contact means is made regardless of therotative orientation of the plug in the socket.

14. An electric cigar lighter for motor vehicles including a handportable igniting unit and a receptacle to store for the manual removalof the igniting unit therefrom for use, said receptacle having means formounting it in a permanent position on the motor vehicle; the ignitingunit having a body carrying an igniting element, a cavity for removablyreceiving and holding a rechargeable electric battery, electric contactmeans including battery terminalengaging contact means in said cavityand manually operable switch means connectable in series with saidigniting element and said battery terminal-engaging contact means forclosing a circuit through said igniting element and a rechargeablebattery when the latter is installed in the cavity of the igniting unitto energize the igniting element; and conducting means in saidreceptacle being connectable to an extraneous source of battery-chargingcurrent carried by the motor vehicle, and receptacle contactmeansconnected to said conducting means; said igniting unit having contactmeans engageable with said receptacle contact means when the ignitingunit is stored in the receptacle to conduct charging current to saidbattery terminalengaging contact means. 4

15. An electric cigar lighter plug according to claim 10 wherein saidcontact meansof the second circuit means includes a third contact membercarried by the body for electrical connection between one pole of thebattery and one pole of the extraneous source of electrical energy andadditional contact means carried by the body for electrical connectionbetween the other pole of the battery and the other pole of theextraneous source of electrical energy.

16. An electric cigar lighter plug according to claim 15 wherein saidadditional contact means of the second circuit means includes the secondcontact member of the first circuit means whereby said second contactmember is either in the igniting element heating circuit upon manualclosure of the switch means or continuously in the battery chargingcircuit in accordance with whether the lighter plug is removed from thesocket for use or is stored in the socket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,517 3/1953Hiscar 219269 X 2,635,171 4/1953 Jones 219-267 X 2,932,716 4/1960 Fenn219268 X 3,007,027 10/1961 Hall 219-268 X 3,119,002 l/1964 Alvarez etal. 219-26'8 X 3,143,697 8/1964 Springer 3202 RICHARD M. wooo, PrimaryExaminer. ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner.

V. Y. MAYEWSKY, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRIC CIGAR LIGHTER INCLUDING A PLUG AND A SOCKET ADAPTED TOSTORE SAID PLUG FOR MANUAL REMOVAL THEREFROM FOR USE, SAID PLUGINCLUDING A BODY, HAVING A HANDLE PORTION AT ONE END WHICH PROJECTS FROTHE SOCKET, AN IGNITING UNIT SECURED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY, THEBODY HAVING A CAVITY TO REMOVABLY RECEIVE AND HOLD A RECHARGEABLYBATTERY, AND CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING BATTERY TERMINAL-ENGAGING CONTACTMEANS, MEANS FOR PLACING THE LATTER IN SERIES WITH THE IGNITING ELEMENTTO EFFECT HEATING THEREOF, CHARGING CIRCUIT MEANS IN SAID SOCKETINCLUDING A FIRST PAIR OF TERMINALS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO ANEXTRANEOUS SOURCE OF BATTERY-CHARGING ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND TO A SECONDPAIR OF TERMINALS, MEANS ON THE PLUG FOR CAUSING SAID SECOND PAIR OFTERMINALS TO BE PLACED IN SERIES WITH THE BATTERY TERMINAL-ENGAGINGCONTACT MEANS TO ENABLE CHARGING OF A BATTERY WHEN THE PLUG ISPOSITIONED IN THE SOCKET.